Billet France 200 francs Charles Montesquieu, écrivain et philosophe français 1983 VF

The 200 francs Montesquieu banknote was issued in 1983 by the Banque de France. It belongs to series H.020 and is one of the iconic banknotes of French fiduciary circulation in the 20th century.

This banknote pays tribute to Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, a French writer and philosopher born in 1689 and died in 1755. A major figure of the Age of Enlightenment, Montesquieu is particularly known for his fundamental work « The Spirit of the Laws », published in 1748, in which he develops the theory of the separation of powers, as well as for his « Persian Letters ». His portrait is prominently featured on this banknote, reflecting the Banque de France's desire to associate its monetary issues with the great intellectual and cultural figures of the national heritage.

Graphically, the banknote presents a composition characteristic of Banque de France productions of this era, with dominant tones combining warm hues and decorative elements referencing Montesquieu's literary and philosophical world. The Château de La Brède, the philosopher's family home located in the Gironde region, is also depicted on the banknote, anchoring Montesquieu's figure within his historical and geographical environment.

This 200 francs banknote represents an intermediate denomination within the French monetary system of the time. The series H.020 allows for precise identification of the production batch to which this example belongs, a key piece of information for collectors and specialists seeking to establish the provenance and relative rarity of a banknote within a given issue. Depending on its condition, this type of banknote represents a significant object of study and collection in the field of 20th-century French numismatics.

 

 

Shipping